Triangular Open Space Mouth Guard for Impact Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mouth guards, both over-the-counter and custom-made, fail to provide adequate dental protection, are uncomfortable, and often hinder breathing and talking, while also being prone to pathogen transmission due to poor fit and material issues.
Innovation Solution
A mouth guard with a bite line separating an outer and inner portion, featuring a plurality of open spaces arranged in triangular patterns for improved impact absorption and comfort, fabricated from a thermoplastic polymer matrix material that can be produced through injection molding or 3-D printing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If over-the-counter mouth guards are used, then cost is reduced, but dental protection is inadequate and fit is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The mouth guard is divided into multiple layers with distinct functions: an outer impact-absorbing layer, an inner comfort layer, and a custom-fitted base layer. This segmentation allows each layer to be optimized for its specific purpose while maintaining overall affordability through simplified manufacturing processes.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the mouth guard have different material properties tailored to local requirements. The outer layer uses harder, impact-resistant material in high-impact areas, while the inner layer uses softer, comfort-oriented material. This local differentiation provides adequate protection without requiring expensive custom manufacturing throughout the entire device.
2Reliability
If custom-made mouth guards are used, then fit and protection are improved, but production time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mouth guard design incorporates pre-molded features and standardized components that can be prepared in advance. The base layer geometry is pre-designed to accommodate various tooth arrangements, allowing for quicker customization and reducing overall production time while maintaining custom fit quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses adjustable parameters such as material thickness, layer composition, and geometric dimensions that can be modified within standardized ranges. This allows for customisation without requiring entirely new mold designs, significantly reducing production time and cost compared to traditional custom-made guards.
3Strength
If dense mouth guard material is used, then impact protection is improved, but breathing and talking are hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The mouth guard incorporates porous or perforated sections that allow air and fluid passage while maintaining structural integrity. These controlled openings provide impact protection in solid areas while enabling breathing and drinking functions through the porous network, resolving the contradiction between density and functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The mouth guard is segmented into functional zones: dense impact-absorbing regions for protection and open/porous regions for breathing and talking. This spatial segmentation allows the device to simultaneously provide strong impact protection and maintain ease of operation for communication and respiration.
4Ease of manufacture
If traditional mouth guard design is used, then manufacturing is simple, but comfort and wearability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The mouth guard employs local quality differentiation with softer materials and smoother surfaces in contact areas for comfort, while maintaining simpler manufacturing processes for the overall structure. This localized optimization of comfort properties does not significantly complicate the manufacturing process, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and comfort.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The mouth guard offers superior impact protection, is comfortable enough to allow easy breathing and talking, and provides a secure, custom fit that reduces the risk of pathogen transmission, while being cost-effective and easy to produce.
Implementation Method 1
fabricated from a thermoplastic polymer matrix material
Implementation Method 2
Impact energy absorbing mouth guard
Data Source
AI summary
An energy absorbing mouth guard is provided with several sets of open spaces. The sets are arranged in the guard at preferred locations. At least some of the sets have arrays of open spaces, where the arrays are arranged in a triangular pattern. Each array in the triangular pattern has three open spaces.